Article
Modeling Spiritual Formation From a Distance: Paul's Formation Transactions with the Roman Christians
Christian Education Journal
(2013)
Abstract
This article proposes that Paul’s letter to the church in Rome can identify processes involved
in offering a spiritually formative education from a distance. When Paul wrote the letter to
Rome, he wrote to a church he had never visited. We argue that his relationship with the recipients is
analogically similar to the relationship between professor and student in an online, educational paradigm.
Paul modeled how to offer this spiritually formative relationship by emphasizing the gospel
message, grounding his scriptural authority, personalizing his message, anticipating questions, enlisting
the community, encouraging the recipients, praying for needs, and explaining the marks of true
Christianity.
Keywords
- spiritual formation,
- distance learning,
- online education,
- education,
- Paul,
- Romans
Disciplines
Publication Date
April, 2013
Citation Information
Benjamin Forrest and Mark A. Lamport. "Modeling Spiritual Formation From a Distance: Paul's Formation Transactions with the Roman Christians" Christian Education Journal Vol. 10 Iss. 1 (2013) p. 110 - 124 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/benjamin-forrest/1/